Welcome to the “The Grid,” the Chicago Sun-Times’ in-depth look at Chicago neighborhoods. Today’s stop: Little Italy. Located four miles west of downtown Chicago, Little Italy was the first stop for many Italian immigrants arriving to the city in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  Filled with family-owned shops, restaurants and churches, it was the heart of Chicago’s Italian-American community. 

In the 1950s and 60s, the neighborhood underwent dramatic changes when much of it was overtaken to make way for the new Eisenhower Expressway and the University of Illinois-Chicago campus. Today, Little Italy is smaller but much of the old-world charm and traditional restaurants remain as you’ll find in this episode of The Grid. Our story includes two action-packed videos, plus a comprehensive article that includes: The history of Little Italy; Interviews with locals; Ji’s picks for some of the best places to eat; Interesting things to do; And much more!